Focus: Policy and Politics - Campaign 'on a shoestring'

The Foyer Federation has hung posters at Westminster tube station as
part of a low-budget but tightly targeted public affairs campaign
designed to reach MPs and other influential people on their way to and
from work.

The Give Us A Chance campaign calls for the abolition of the 16-hour
housing benefit rule, which the federation says forces young people to
choose between their homes and education by dictating that, if you are
over 19, you cannot claim housing benefit if you are studying full
time.

As well as posters, which advertise the campaign website address, Give
Us A Chance includes a week of action in which 40 young people from
foyers across the country will go to Parliament and talk to MPs about
the issues affecting them.

Sophie Livingstone, head of policy and communications at the Foyer
Federation, says the campaign has been done on a shoestring and proves
that charities do not need big budgets to conduct lobbying drives.

"It is important to be specific in what you are doing," says
Livingstone.

"I was thinking for some time of doing some sort of stunt that would
draw attention to the fact that we were having problems funding learning
in foyers."

She adds that the campaign will be even more cost-effective because all
the materials will be available for use in future campaigns. "I don't
see the website having an end," she says. "And the posters aren't
time-sensitive either."

The federation has also spent time fostering relationships with MPs who
have foyers in their constituencies, in a bid to help promote issues
affecting young people at a national level.

It has also set up events at which young people can talk directly to
representatives of the Government.

The Foyer Federation supports 130 foyers - centres that combine housing
and learning support for young people - across the UK.

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